I am an Associate Professor in aviation who specialises in solving operations and scheduling problems of airlines and airports. These problems include airline operations management, scheduling, airport terminal planning, airport retail development and passenger choice behaivour studies. Many of my past projects helped industry partners save millions of dollars in operating costs or enhance product sales and revenues. I lead a team of researchers who have specialised skills to deliver values for industry partners while we innovate our approach to solving industry problems through world-class aviation research at UNSW Australia.

My Academic Activities

I joined UNSW Aviation in 2002 after my PhD from Loughborough University (UK). I have spent time both in the public and private sector in transport and aviation. My reserach is innovative and highly relevant to the industry; recent projects in my lab include:

In the past few years, I have seen the commercial implementation of my earlier Aircraft Turnaround Monitoring System (ATMS) research (article here). This prototype product, ATMS was issued a preliminary Australian patent in 2004, recognising the innovation of this framework/prototype in the airline industry. Recent commercial examples of the ATMS concept include: SITA's former Workforce Mobility Solution. Also see another example of the ATMS framework in action from Avtura's Real-Time Aircraft Turnaround Tool.

My Research Interests

My research focus on airport operations, airline operations, schedule optimisation and passenger's choice behaviour modelling. I published a book with Ashgate Publishing, titled 'Airline Operations and Delay Management. This book was published in March 2010. Check the book at: Ashgate website. You can also find this book via Amazon.com. A simplified-Chinese version of this book is also available via Chinese Civil Aviation Publishing House.

A synopses of the book is given below:

"This book is focused on airline operations and delay management with insights and perspectives from airline economics, network evolution and schedule planning. The ultimate goal of managing airline operations is to minimise operating costs and follow the designed operational plans including the schedule. Hence, it would not be a complete book to discuss airline operational issues and management without addressing the underlying economic and market forces that drive the evolution of airline networks and consequently the philosophy of schedule planning.

This book starts by introducing the operating environment of airlines, the evolution of airline networks, the driving economic forces behind airline scheduling and the general practices of airline schedule planning procedures. Airline operations at airports are discussed in detail in Chapter 2 including activities by airlines at airports, the uncertainties involved in daily operations, and the impact of uncertain disruptions on the management of airline operations. Chapter 3 explores the issues in managing daily aircraft turnaround operations, combining industry practices and mathematical models for managing airline ground operations at airports. The network effects of airline operations in Chapter 4 outlines the impact of stochastic disruptions on airline networks, followed by operational management of complex airline networks and on-time performance in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 starts by introducing readers the emerging concept of robust airline scheduling and operational reliability of airline networks. Recent advances in modelling and optimising airline operations and airline schedules are discussed and examples are given from real-world cases. Mathematical models widely used in the industry for solving airline operations and management issues are discussed in the book. Further details of these models are placed in the Appendix for interested and advanced readers."

Book Reviews:

David Forsyth, Chairman Airservices Australia, and former Executive General Manager Airline Operations, QANTAS:'Network and Schedule Planning are key functions in any airline. In practice, many airlines do not give these issues the depth of analysis they deserve. Wu’s book is a practical guide to application of complex network theory, and to resolving the management of conflicting demands on schedulers. It provides valuable lessons for airline managers to improve their on-time performance, delay management and efficient utilisation of their fleet.'

Prof. Peter Forsyth, Monash University, Australia'Airline network planning and schedule optimisation sets up a wide range set of problems to be resolved, entailing operations research, economics and other disciplines. Wu's book provides a systematic yet practical guide to these. The book is masterly in the way that it elucidates complex material and builds up to reach a comprehensive synthesis. The result is a book which can be recommended strongly to both students and researchers.'